Oneida teen missionary heading to secret country in Asia

ONEIDA -- Some time in mid-August, Caroline Hood will be traveling with a group of peers to Asia to "spread the word of God."

The 19-year-old said the faith-based non-profit organization she is traveling with asked her to not specifically name the country she will be visiting, or the name of the organization itself, because of safety concerns.

Once there, Hood said the mission of her team will be to engage with the citizens of that country, "make friends with them and let Christ shine through."

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Hood will be in the country for 10 months to practice "relationship evangelism" -- communicating God's word through a cultural exchange.

She'll be going to a college town to stand on street corners and engage students learning English. The students can practice their English while the missionaries tell them about their religion and they all become friends.

Hood doesn't speak the language of the country she's visiting.

"It's going to be exciting to be in another culture," she said. "This is the first time I have been out of the country."

She believes, "God has called me to do this."

By making this trip, she plans to be obedient to Jesus and to be bold. "I want to put myself out there."

Hood graduated from Herkimer Community College in May with a degree in social sciences. She is still unsure of what she would ultimately like to do for a living one day, "But I will have 10 months to think about it."

She might one day be interested in working with people with disabilities or foreign exchange students.

Growing up, Hood said she was always religious. Her mother taught her about God, and she always went to Sunday school. She was involved with church youth groups and during some summers, she traveled to Delaware with a group of volunteers to help make repairs to houses in poor neighborhoods.

This summer, she is a camp counselor at Delta Lake Bible Conference Center.

Hood attends a Presbyterian Church, but embraces all paths of Christianity. She said it is her wish to spread the word of God to as many people as she can.

"We don't want to force God on anyone," Hood said of her upcoming trip.

In certain Asian countries, Hood said the residents are mostly atheist because, "That's what the government teaches them."

While there, she hopes to travel to surrounding countries, and will do some journal writing.

"I know a bit about what to expect, but when I get back I will be able to talk more freely about my experiences," Hood said.

She has met the other individuals in her group, and said that in addition to her team, she will also be working with long-term missionaries in the area.

What she would tell individuals about God?

"There is just so much more of a purpose to life when you have God in it," she said. "Knowing that I can define myself by God is meaningful."

She first heard about the organization in 2011 and asked for more information. After going to an introductory session, she was at first she was not enthused about the group's mission. So, after more research, prayer and careful consideration, she changed her mind and decided she did wish to pursue the mission.

When she first mentioned the idea to her parents, they said, "No."

But Hood persevered and prayed. Now, she says her parents are happy with the plan and everything is falling into place.

The trip costs $12,500. Since May, she has raised roughly two-thirds of that.

"I've always loved short-term mission work," she said. "This is the first long-term project I have undertaken."

With things working out so smoothly, "I feel like this is His plan," she said.

She has undergone some training, but for about a week and a half in early August, she will receive intense training that will cover how-to's, safety and the culture of where she is going.

For more information about Hood's trip or to learn how to make a donation, those interested may email her at: octoberbabi23@aol.com.